arctic warrior

In our series of if I would be a foodie blogger. Includes a recipe and guest starring Minttu.

First of all, I just realised in Switzerland I eat way more veggies than in Finland. That because they are most of the times local – or almost local – and so good quality. (Poor short cold summers of Lapland). And because meat is so expensive in here. Which it also should be, of course. For the climate, sustainable production and business.

Though not even that has turned me into fully vegan. And even though tempting – again the climate – I guess it will take time for me to get fully vegan. Though not for the meat – the least for that really. Mainly because the Swiss cheese. I mean, what would life be without apéro-plättli and raclette… And käseschnitte! (Ask and I may write more of those some day). Luckily though, the cows in Switzerland seem more than happy with their life and duties.

(At this point I have to tell you that especially in Switzerland I am kinda strange Finn abroad because I don’t miss many Finnish/Lapland things. Like, I don’t travel here from Finland with bags full of Finnish bread and candies and whatever many other fellow Finns seem to do. Simply, because I am lazy and have too much stuff anyway. And because Swiss food is generally more than good for me.

Nevertheless, in addition to the fish and flatbread baked by my dad (aka the original hipster) I do miss the berries a lot. Because they taste good and are super healthy. The original superfood from Lapland. And while one gets some berry jams from here too – even cloudberry jam from Ikea – and while fresh berries are kinda impossible to transport to Switzerland to be enjoyed later (especially with our tiny tiny freezer) I am super happy for the recent commercialised invention of berry powders. 100% berries, light to fly with, and easy to storage and be consumed regularly until the jar is finished and new order has to be made – thank god one can nowadays buy them online too.)

Lately, I have been the most excited of that shock dark pink of Arctic Warrior’s Puolu lingonberry powder. Which goes well mixed with frozen bananas and coconut milk – for banana-coconut-lingonberry nice cream – and for the above mentioned raw soaked oats porridge.

(For mine, I normally mix together a small handful of big oat flakes, a bit of chia seeds, spoonful of lingonberry powder, just enough unsweetened almond or coconut milk, and one ripe banana. Then I let it stay in the fridge over the night in the very hipster jar and eat it in the morning – raw or occasionally topped with almonds/nuts, more berry powder and coconut flakes.)

And to get it all balanced, see the last pic for todays most interesting find and our guess star Minttu.

Was today sorting my skiing and mountaineering stuff aka my favourite toys and next to my harness – which I have used way too little lately – I found a bottle of Minttu. The notorious Finnish drink which goes well as a shot or extremely well with hot chocolate (or at least to the ones who like boozy mint chocolate) and which for some reason – didn’t remember it first – I had in there.

Though then, I remembered la graving and the concept of survival shot. (For the nerves, that is. )

Seemingly though I have not needed it, because the bottle’s still unopened. Which only means that the harness and crampons and me need more outings. The bit scary kinda ones, for which one needs all kind of shots in the emergency kit (btw, above mentioned Arctic Warriors also makes my favourite natural energy shots – these honey ones) in addition to the crampons and glacier specs.